18 years; Sudden gimp in hind leg comes and goes

[taitasdf]

Hey Folks,

So my 18 year old Norwegian Forest cat has suddenly developed a strange gimp in his hind leg. He's pretty healthy for his age, still spry and limber with an average weight.

He gets around just fine but at random times he will yell out in pain followed by the inability to put any pressure on his left hind leg. After a few minutes it goes away and he's fine until the next episode. It happens sometimes when he's just laying around or when he's active, about 5 times these past two weeks. I've put pressure on and around his leg/back to see if I could get a reaction but I get none. He also urinated outside the litter box which never happens (clear and plentiful). Not sure if that's related but it's strange none the less. Bowel movements seem to be regular, but I could be wrong on that front.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[sugarcatmom]

I think a vet visit would be your best bet for figuring out the leg issue. The majority of senior cats most certainly have arthritis, but only a vet can say for sure if that's the case with your kitty. Norwegian Forest cats are also prone to cardiac problems, of which hind leg weakness can sometimes be a symptom.

Originally Posted by taitasdf

He also urinated outside the litter box which never happens (clear and plentiful).

This part caught my eye. Would definitely be time for some lab work (senior blood panel and a urinalysis). Dilute urine can be a sign of renal insufficiency and at 18, I'd be surprised if your cat didn't have some degree of compromised kidneys. Other common possibilities are diabetes or hyperthyroidism. All of these conditions can be managed with the right combo of meds, diet changes, and/or supplements.

So basically, off to the vet yee must go!